Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
College Station, TX
🏆 College Station leads 16 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
College Station
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Households earn $11,413 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Violent crime (796.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $376,800
Property crime (3895.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than College Station
College Station, TX
Pros
79% less violent crime than Asheville
Homes cost $71k less ($305,800 vs $376,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $121/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,250)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Asheville by $11,413/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Median Income
$11,413
$63,810 vs $52,397/yr
Asheville
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.7% unemployment
College Station
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
79% lower
170.5 vs 796.1 per 100k
College Station
Median Home Value
$71k less
$305,800 vs $376,800
College Station
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | College Station, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,129 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $52,397 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) | A (129) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% | 95.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | COLLEGE STATION ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 46.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 120,451 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 22.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 6.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs College Station's 90.7 (US average = 100).
College Station is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 16 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 7 and College Station wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Asheville to College Station or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $305,800 median home), income ($63,810 vs $52,397), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and College Station, TX are about 866 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.